• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was to investigate the cleavage pattern, its developmental ability and apoptosis of porcine embryo in vitro. Morphology data on a total of 919 embryos were analyzed retrospectively. Forty-eight hours after insemination, embryos were classified into five groups based on the cleavage state as follows; 1 cell, 2 cell, 4 cell, 5 to 8 cell and fragmentation. These groups were cultured another 120 hours and then evaluated for blastocyst formation. Blastocyst formation rates were significantly higher in 4 cell (42.5%) and 5 to 8 cell (48.6%) cleaving groups than in other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, 2 cell and fragmentation groups produced 4.9% and 3,9% blastocysts, respectively. And we could verify that in the event of 2 cell block and fragmentation of embryo. To analyze the apoptotic frequency in preimplantation development of porcine IVF embryos, all cells of each blastocyst were performed by TUNEL assay. There were no significantly differences in the total cell numbers of embryos and apoptotic cell rate in blastocysts among the each classified groups. Data suggest that 4 cell and 5 to 8 cell cleaving embryos at 48 hour after insemination have high developmental competence, and may be an useful parameter to predict the development of preimplantation embryos and to study using preimplanation embryonic research.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 1996

The present study investigated the effect of treatment with nocodazole on the efficiency of cell cycle synchronization and development of mouse 4-cefl embryos. In addition, developmental ability of reconstituted embryos that received nuclei from 4-cell embryos synchronized with nocodazole at M phase was examined in vitro and in vivo. (1) When 4-cell blastorneres exposed to culture medium containing l$\mu$g /ml nocodazole for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hrs, 40% (40/10l), 75% (l19/159), 85% (87/102) and 97% (155/160) of nuclei were synchronized at M phase, respectively. (2) Treated with nocodazole for 4 hrs, the proportion of 4-cell embryos developed to blastocysts (98%, 60/61) was not significanUy different from that of the control embryos (98%, 196/201). However, the developmental ability of 4-cell embryos treated for 8 (87%, P<0.05)and 12 hrs (76%, P

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.68-68
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• 2001

Blastocyst formation, consisting of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE), is the first differentiation process during embryonic development in mammals. It has been hypothesized that the proportion of ICM to TE in the blastocyst may be crucial for subsequent developmental competence of early embryos, which it may be expressed as a sensitive indicator for evaluating in vitro systems. In this study ICM/total cell ratio of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos was compared with IVF-derived and in vivo embryos. Somatic cell nuclei obtained from a fetus at Day 40 of gestation were transferred into the enucleated oocyte and then cultured in NCSU 23 medium for 6 days as previously described (Koo et al., Biol. Reprod. 2000; 63:986-992). ICM and TE cells of blastocysts were determined by using a differential staining method (Han et al., Biol. Reprod. 1999; 60:1110-1113). Development rate (9.8$\pm$2.5%, 23/225) to the blastocyst stage of NT embryos was lower than IVF embryos (23.8$\pm$2.7%, 53/223). Thus, a difference was detected in the in vitro developmental rate to blastocyst stage between NT and IVF-derived embryos (P<0.05). In the next experiment, we investigated ICM and TE nuclei to assess the quality of blastocysts that produced by NT, IVF and in vivo, respectively. NT blastocysts (27.6$\pm$8.3) showed a smaller total cell number than IVF-derived (42.6$\pm$17.4) and in vivo embryos (283.9$\pm$103.5) (P<0.05). Ratios of ICM/total cells in NT, IVF and in vivo blastocysts were 15.1$\pm$ 18.6% (n=56), 12.3$\pm$9.2% (n=57) and 30.4$\pm$6.8% (n=40), respectively. Individual blastocysts for the ratio of ICM/total cells were assigned to 3 groups (I; <20%, II; 20 to 40% and III;>40%). As the results, most in vivo blastocysts (97.5%, 39/40) were distributed into group II while most NT (78.6%, 44/56) and IVF-derived blastocysts (82.5%, 47/57) were allocated to group I. Thus, our data show that NT or IVF-derived embryos have aberrant morphology during early development in vitro systems, suggesting that these anomalies may result in developmental failures of the NT embryos to term.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intracellular and intercellular messenger, controlling many physiological processes and participating in the fertilization process via the autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. This study investigated whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitior (L-NAME) and L-arginine could regulate in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development in mice. Mouse epididymal spermatozoa, oocytes, and embryos were incubated in mediums of variable conditions with and without L-NAME or L-arginine (0.5, 1, 5 and 10mM). Fertilization rate and early embryonic development were significantly inhibited by treating sperms or oocytes with L-NAME (93.8% vs 66.3%,92.1% vs 60.3%), but not with L-arginine. In contrast, fertilization rate and early embryonic development were conspicuously reduced when L-NAME or L-arginine was added to the culture media for embryos. Early embryonic development was inhibited by microinjection of L-NAME into the fertilized embryosin a dose-dependent manner, but only by high concentrations of L-arginine. These results suggest that a moderate amount of NO production is essential for fertilization and early embryo development in mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 1999

The follicular fluid (FF) of ovary contains various biological active products which affected on the growth of follicles and the fertilization of oocyte in physiological reproductive process of mammals. This study was designed to determine the effects of human FF on fertilization of oocyte and embryonal development in vitro culture. The FF was prepared as clear without blood contamination by needle aspiration from mature follicles of human at the time of oocytes retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the medium for culture in vitro of embryonal cells, human tubal fluid (HTF) supplemented with follicular fluids at concentrations of 10%, 40% and pure FF were used. These effects were compared to control group of cultured embryos in HTF supplemented with 0.4% BSA (bovine serum albumin). For IVF, 64 eggs in control group, 67 eggs in 10% FF, 57 eggs in 40% FF and 64 eggs in pure FF were respectively allocated. And the rates of fertilization were almost similar in all groups as resulting 82.81% in control, 85.07% in 10% FF, 87.71% in 40% FF and 81.25% in pure FF. On the examination for embryonal cleavage from fertilized eggs, the rates of developing to 4 cell stage was similar in all groups, as results 98.11% in control, 98.27% in 10% FF and 98% in 40% FF but 78.84% in pure FF. And the rates of developing to 8-16 cell stage were significantly reduced as 44% in 40% FF and 44.23% in pure FF (p<0.05) compare to 71.69% in control media. As likewise, the rates of developing to morular stage were also significantly reduced to 36% (p<0.05) and 21.15% (p<0.01) respectively in 40% FF and pure FF. And the rates to blastocystic stage of embryo was lowest as 7.69% in pure FF (Table 1). The quality of embryonal cells on cleavage to the 8-16 cell stage was poorer, higher concentrations of FF. The rates of grade 1 in pure FF, as 23.07%, was lowest compare to those of other groups, in which the rates of grade 1 in control, 10% FF and 40% FF were 58.49%, 47.36% and 34% respectively. And on the contrary, the rate of grade 4 in pure FF was highest as 23.07%, while those were 5.66% in control, 8.77% in 10% FF and 20% in 40% FF (Table 2). On the viability of embryos, the rate of embryonal cell death was more rise, at the higher concentrations as well as longer exposure in the follicular fluid. At 48 hours after in vitro culture of embryos, the rate of survival embryos in pure FF was markedly lowered as 44.23%, compare to that of control (p<0.05). But there was not significant difference between the rates of survival embryos in each group beside the pure FF, which the rates were 77.35% in control, 70.17% in 10% FF and 60% in 40% FF respectively. And at 72 hours after in vitro culture, the rates of survival embryos were also significantly dropped to 21.15% in pure and 36% in 40% at concentration of FF compare to 62.26% in control (p<0.05, p<0.01). Finally, the rate of embryonal death at 96 hours after in vitro culture was highest as 82.69% in pure FF among all groups which those were 35.84 in control, 56.14% in 10% FF and 64% in 40% FF respectively (Fig. 1, 2, 3). In conclusion, this study suggests that the FF has no effects, in particular, to the in vitro fertilization of oocytes but exerted a bad effect to the cleavage, quality and viability of the embryonal cells during in vitro culture. However, the FF is harmful on embryonal development at conditions in higher concentration and especially on the embryos after $8{\sim}16$ cell stage.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2002

Endocrine disruptors have been reported to adversely affect reproduction and embryonic development in wild animals. One of the major abnormalities observed during early embryonic development is cellular fragmentation. In this study, we exposed mouse preimplantation embryos to PCB, BPA and DDT in vivo or in vitro. Embryos exposed to endocrine disrupter showed a variety of morphological abnormalities such as fragmentation, irregular blastomeres and cracked empty zonae pellucidae. To investigate the levels of gene expression related which genes contribute to apoptosis in preimplantation mouse embryos, we carried out the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess mRNA levels far apoptotic gene. Bcl-2, bad and bax expression levels were compared between control group and endocrine disrupter treated group. Expression level of bcl-2 gene tended to be lower in the treated group than control while expression levels of bad and bax genes were higher in the treated group. Results of this study may provide a useful tool for rapidly screening developmental toxicants in preimplantation embryos exposed to endocrine disruptors in vivo or in vitro.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to optimize the vitrification method of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Thus, in vitro produced embryos at 8 cell, morula and blastocyst stages were vitrified on electron microscope grids (EM grids) or in open pulled straws (OPS) with EG5.5 (5.5 M ethylene glycol, 1.0 M sucrose and 10% FBS in m-DPBS medium) freezing solution and their survival rates after thawing were compared. The embryos on EM grids or in OPS were briefly exposed to EG5.5 freezing solution and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen within 30 to 35 sec. Post-thawed embryos were serially diluted in 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 M sucrose in m-DPBS, each for 1 min, and then cultured in CRI aa medium supplemented with 10% FBS. Embryonic survival rate was assessed as re-expanded and hatched rates of those embryos after warming. The rates of re-expansion embryos did not significantly different between EM grid (8 cell: 42.10%, morula: 66.66% and blastocyst: 77.08%) and OPS (8 cell: 47.36%, morula: 61.90% and blastocyst: 83.33%) methods. In addition, the hatched rates in EM grid (8 cell: 31.57%, morula: 57.14% and blastocyst: 72.91%) were similar to those in OPS (8 cell. 34.21%, morula: 50.00% and Blastocyst: 77.08%). Interestingly, even at the same blastocyst stage, the in vitro survival of day 7 embryos (EM grid: 79.48 and OPS: 87.18%) was higher than those of day 8 embryos (EM grid: 72.10 and OPS: 82.06%). The total cell number of blastocyst developed in vitro after vitrification was examined with Hoechst 33342 staining to compare the embryo quality among different treatment groups. The total cell number of blastocyst was not significantly different between vitrified groups (EM grid: 162.4$\pm$8.0 and OPS: 158.4$\pm$7.1) and unvitrified control (168.0$\pm$5.6). These results indicate that both vitrification containers can provide the high rate of embryo survival. Moreover, the OPS container may not need a cap to protect the container from floating after immersion in L$N_2$. Therefore, this study suggest that bovine embryos can be cryopreserved easily, effectively and successfully by vitrification method using EM grid or OPS with EG5.5 freezing solution. In the future, the Pregnancy rate would be investigated after transfer of our vitrified embryos into the appropriated recipients.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 1989

These experiments were carried out to obtain the basic information for in vitro fertilization and development of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells were collected by puncturing follicles with 2-6mm of diameter. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24-26 hours in a CO2 incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 39$^{\circ}C$. The medium used for maturation was TCM199 supplemented with hormones, pyruvate, FBS and antibiotics. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by in vitro culture for 2-3 hours in BO solution containing bovine serum albumin(5mg/ml) and caffein(2.5mM). Insemination was made by introducing about 10-15 matured oocytes into the suspension of capacitated spermatozoa. Six hour after inseminatin the eggs were transferred to TCM 199 supplemented with FBS(10%) for in vitro development. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The maturation rate of oocytes following incubation for 24-26 hours was 78.4%(228/291). 2. Of total 250 oocytes, 172 embryos extruded 2nd polar body following in vitro culture with spermatozoa for 20 hours, and the rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cells and morula or early blastocyst were 64.0, 39.2, 22.0, 15.2 and 11.2%, respectively. 3. The time needed for development to 2-, 4-. 8-, 16-cell stage and morula was 42.5$\pm$5.4, 58.0$\pm$9.2, 74.4$\pm$11.5, 96.1$\pm$13.4 and 119.0$\pm$18.2 hours, respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of biological factors on the in vitro production(IVP) of bovine oocytes for development of simple culture methods and medium. Oocytes from the slaughterhouse ovaries were matured and fertilized using general protocol and this study was examined if there were necessary to co-culture, media change, media type and embryo density. This results were as follows: 1. The development rate according to co-culture with cumulus cells and non co-culture as drop culture was not significantly different in cleavage (68.9 vs 71.7%), 8-cell stage (41.2 vs 44.1%) and blastocyst stage (12.2 vs 13.8%), respectively (p<0.05) 2. The blastocyst development rates in YS and CRIaa were higher than that in TCM199 (12.4, 10.4$ vs 3.7%), but the cleavage (69.0, 77.8 and 61.0%) and 8-cell stage (31.7, 37.0 and 35.7%) development accoring to YS, TCM199 and CRIaa ws not significantly different, respectively (p<0.05). 3. There was no significantly different in cleavage (62.6, 59.5 and 61.2%), 8-cell(34.7, 37.9 and 34.0%) and blastocyst (9.5, 11.6 and 12.8%) development among medium change time as control, Group I and Group II, respectively (p<0.05). 4. Blastocyst formation of 8-cell stage according to embryo density was not significantly different in 1, 10 and 25 embryos (27.3, 22.5 and 34.0%), respectively (p<0.05). These results indicated that simple culture system could reduce bovine IVP embryos as drop culture as non co-culture system, high density embryo (25 embryos/50 $\mu$1 drop). YS defined medium and no medium change for whole culture period, although other biological factors need to examine in order to produce efficient IVP bovine embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.241-245
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate nuclear remodeling and developmental rate following nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast cells, ear skin cells and oviduct epithelial cells into porcine recipient oocytes. To test par-thenogenetic activation, oocytes were treated with a 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), a single DC-pulse (DC), calcium ionomycin (ionomycin), DC+6-DMAP and ionomycin + 6-DMAP after in vitro maturation. For nuclear transfer, in vitro matured oocytes were enucleated, and donor cells were transferred into oocytes. Cloned embryos were fused and stimulated with 6-DMAP for 4 h and cultured in vitro for 6 days. Among treatments for parthenogenesis, the activation rate of DC +6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher than that of single treatment roups (p<0.01), except for DC treatment group. However, the difference was not significant in activation rate compared to other complex treatment groups. Nuclear swelling of the cloned embryos was initiated at 60 min after stimulation and increased afterwards. Fusion rates were not different among different donor cells. Cleavage rates of DC treatment groups were significantly higher than those of DC+6-DMAP treatment groups (p<0.05) in case that fetal fibroblast and ear cells were used for nuclear donor. The cloned embryos from developed to blastocysts in oviduct epithelial cell nuclear transfer with DC+6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher compared to those with DC only treatment (p<0.05). However, no blastocyst was developed from nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast and ear cells regardless of activation treatments. Based on these results, a proper activation stimulation may be necessary to increase the activation rate and the development to blastocyst in cloned porcine embryos.